West Newsmagazine 10-17-18

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6 I OPINION I October 17, 2018 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM EDITORIAL Emphasis on ‘Super’ “He is, like, the coolest guy in the world.” “He’s just very approachable, very real.” These are some of the phrases the editorial staff at West Newsmagazine used when discussing Rockwood Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost’s surprise retirement announcement last Thursday. Knost, who has led the district since 2014, will retire at the end of the current school year. In September 2014, West Newsmagazine reporter Bonnie Krueger wrote a story about Dr. Knost’s first month on the job. She noted that in that single month, Knost had visited every classroom in 10 of Rockwood’s 31 schools. His energy was instantly infectious, as was his commitment to excellence. Dr. Knost was unafraid to challenge students and set lofty goals for the district. “Kids who thrive in the real world are more likely to fall in love with their lives and, in turn, will be successful. The kids who don’t find that same passion for life, generally struggle,” Knost said in the article. When looking at Dr. Knost’s tenure, it is important to remember how tumultuous the years were that preceded it. Bruce Borchers held the job three years before Dr. Knost; his reign was controversial at best. Borchers failed to get two separate bond issues passed and was embroiled in controversy regarding his management style and financial and hiring practices. When Borchers resigned, Terry Adams took the job on a one-year, interim basis. Adams was the 2011 Missouri Superintendent of the Year and was seen as a “fixer,” someone who could come in and calm the choppy waters that district officials and educators found themselves swimming in after three years of derision. That three-year span was a low-point for the highly regarded Rockwood district, arguably the lowest point since its inception. But Adams was likable and, more importantly, he did exactly what he was hired to do – he changed the focus of Rockwood stakeholders and got everyone talking about kids and quality education once more. Still, Adams never intended to stay with the district. Long-term, it needed someone who could heal it. Enter Dr. Knost with his easy, likable and everapproachable demeanor. Right from the start, kids liked him, parents liked him, even taxpayers liked him. The fact that one of his first acts was to visit with students was telling of the manner in which his tenure would continue. In a Random Thoughts interview with West Newsmagazine in April, Dr. Knost said, “As a kid, I thought it would be the coolest thing to be an adult; as an adult, I don’t see anything cooler than our youth.” His years as an educator bear truth to those words. A native Missourian, Dr. Knost has more than 30 years of experience in public education. Prior to serving as Rockwood’s superintendent, he served as an assistant principal in the Parkway School District and shared his love of music with Rockwood students while serving as an administrative intern and band director in the district. Rockwood School District covers more than 150 square miles and serves some 21,000 students. As its superintendent, Dr. Knost has covered all those miles and met more than his fair share of those students personally. Beyond just meeting the students, his policies around character education, STEM education and his dedication to educating the whole student will impact those students for a lifetime. Last April, Dr. Knost described his journey in education this way: “Opportunities would come my way ... and before long I was interning as an administrator, followed by being an assistant principal, followed by a principal, followed by a central office person, then a deputy superintendent and then a superintendent.” Now, he said “new endeavors” have led him to the “inevitable idea of retiring from this chapter in my life.” He said the decision was not easy and he ended his retirement statement by saying: “Please help me smile about this as we continue our work to complete this school year together. The field of education is, and always will be, deeply seated in my heart and soul. Encouragement and hugs will be gladly accepted in the months to come, as I am sure I’ll need both.” Dr. Knost, all those hugs you will be receiving are well earned. IN QUOTES “Fear is not a proper motivator. Hope wins out … [how do] you want [your kids] to think about life and their opportunities, do you want them afraid of their neighbors?” – Michelle Obama, rebuking Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder “One of the challenges now confronting a modern democracy is too much information, along with the attendant problem of separating fact from opinion. – Dr. Alden Craddock, Maryville University political scientist FOLLOW US ON On Thursday, Oct. 11, Rockwood Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost [seen here with students from Geggie Elementary] announced his intent to retire at the end of the school year. [Rockwood School District photo] Over 100 scarecrows, including the Blevins Elementary bobcat, have invaded Eureka. Guests are invited to download a map at eurekascarecrowfestival.com and see if they can find them all. [Eureka Scarecrow Festival photo]
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West Newsmagazine 10-17-18

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